The neurobiological effects of stress as contributors to psychiatric disorders: focus on epigenetics

Abstract

A large body of evidence describes the long term impact of stress on a number of biological systems and with it associated adverse health outcomes. This article will discuss the epigenetic mechanisms of the embedding of these long term changes, the differences in these mechanisms depending on the type and timing of stress exposure, including transgenerational effects as well as differences in the mechanisms for tissue specific versus more global epigenetic changes. A mechanistic understanding of the long term epigenetic consequences of stress may allow novel, targeted intervention and prevention strategies for psychiatric and other stress-associated disorders.